S.T.A.G.S. review

Hey guys! So I just finished this absolutely amazing book by M.A. Bennett. I knew going into it that it was going to be good, because it was set in a boarding school and I have a total weakness for books set in boarding schools. I love the microcosm it creates, this tiny ecosystem of people where everything is magnified and interpersonal relationships become so much more intense.

This book is set at S.T.A.G.S., an elite boarding school in England that’s been around since the middle ages. The families who attend it have often attended for many generations, and their families have all known each other for hundreds of years.

When Greer, a girl from inner city Manchester, wins a scholarship to the school, she doesn’t quite get what she expects. She expects the grand old buildings, the hard classes, and the rules against technology. What she doesn’t expect are The Medievals, an elite clique that runs the school. They are royalty, and when they invite her and two other “nobodies” to the estate for the weekend, Greer has no choice but to accept. What follows is an intense, high-paced story full of intrigue and lots of twists and turns.

This story kept me glued to the page. It reminded me of Pretty Little Liars with its incredible plotting and dangerous characters. I always love books with cliques, because they just set up such intense interpersonal relationships that often spiral into disaster, which is extremely fun to read. This book was no exception; the story of The Medievals was impossible to put down.

I also loved the aesthetic of this book. Fall in England, with lots of cozy fires and big old estates and trips to mansions- who could resist that? It was cozy with an undertone of danger, full of all of my favorite things. Even when Greer was in danger, I couldn’t help appreciating the aesthetic of the book.

This book will keep any reader on the edge of their seat. It was the “read it all in one sitting” kind of book, the kind that you walk around the house holding because you just can’t put it down.

Overall, I thought this was an intense read, and perfect for the winter/fall season. If you or anyone in your life enjoys fast-paced books with fascinating characters, I highly recommend this.